Steam-engine governor



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES SEYMOUR DUTTON, OF YOUNGSTOVVN'OHIO.

STEAM-ENGINE GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 426,585, dated April29, 1890. Application filed January 15, 1890- Serial No: 336,983. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES SEYMOUR DUT- TON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State ofOhio, have invented or discovered a certain new and useful Improvementin Steam-Engine Governors, of which improvement the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to centrifugal governors of the class or t *peordinarily known as shaft-governors, in which the desired regulation ofspeed is effected by variations of operative position of an adjustablevalve-actuating eccentric, in accordance with Variatrons of pressure orload, or both, such variations being produced by a governing mechanismin which the centrifugal action of Weighted arms and the centripetalefiect of springs are exerted upon the adjustable eccentric, which issuitably connected thereto.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and effective means formaintaining theadjustable eccentric in any of the several positions intowhich it may be brought by the governing mechanism as against thetendency to displacement therefrom induced by the reslstance of thevalve which is connected with and operated by the eccentric.

To this end my invention, generally stated, consists in the combinationof a supporting wheel or case, an adjustable eccentric, and acentrifugal governing mechanism, each coupled thereto, a link or guidefixed to the supporting-wheel, and a block fitted to traverse on 'saidguide and coupled to the eccentric and governing mechanism.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a governorembodying my i11- vention; Fig. 2, a side View, partly in section, ofthe same; and Fig. 3, a plan view showing the hub of thesupporting-wheel, the eccentric, and the guide-block-coupling bar.

My invention is herein illustrated as applied in a shaft-governor forautomatic cut off engines, the general elements of which accordsubstantially With those of the present standard constructions and arenot herein claimed as of my present invention. The operative mechanismis supported upon and rotates with a wheel or case 1, having a centralhub which is secured upon the main or crank shaft 2 of the engine onwhich the governor is applied, or upon a counter-shaft rotatedtherefrom. An adjustable valve-actuating eccentric 3, which is fittedfreely around the shaft and adapted to receive a limited range ofmovement in a direction substantially transverse to the cran k-line bybeing pro vid ed with an elongated opening 4, through which the shaftpasses, is journaled upon a pin or bolt 5, fixed in the hub of thesupportingwheel 1. Movement of the eccentric about the axis of its pivot5 will under such construction vary its radius of eccentricity to theshaft 2 and correspondingly vary the degree of traverse which it impartsto the valve to which it is connect-ed.

The governing mechanism by which the movement and adjustment of theeccentric is effected is, as in prior constructions, composed of a pairof arms 6, which are fixed on pins 7, journaled in bearings in thesupport ing-wheel 1 at diametrically-opposite points and carrying neartheir outer ends centrifugally-acting weights 8. An arm 9 is secured tothe pivot-pin 7 of each of the weight-arms 6, and the arms 9 are coupledone to the other by a connecting-bar 10, so that the weightarms arecaused to move in unison and the gravity of the weights is neutralized,one bal ancing theother. Helical springs 11 are coupled at one end tothe weight-arms 6 and at their opposite ends, through adjustingscrews12, to the periphery of the supportingwheel 1. This system ofcentrifugally-acting weights and centrifugally acting springs, whichconstitutes the governing mechanism proper, is connected to theadjustable eccentric, as presently to be described, and effects themovement of the latter into the different positions requisite forregulation in the manner which is common to all governors of this type.

The resistance of the steam-distribution valve, which is actuated by theeccentric 3 through its strap and rod and suitable connections, tends inoperation to move the eccentric out of adjusted position, and thereby tocorrespondingly impair the sensitiveness and normal regulating functionsof the goveccentric the movement of said arms.

guide 13 1s so located that its normal line or.

erninginechanism. In order to obviate such objectionable disturbingtendency, I provide a locking device by which the eccentric is firmlyheld as against displacement by valveresistance from any position intowhich it may be brought by the governing mechan= ism, while being freelysubject to movement by the action of the latter, as the conditions ofregulation may require. To this end a curved or inclined guide 13, whichis preferably, as shown, in the form of a slotted link, is fixed uponthe supporting-wheel1 adjacent to its periphery, and a die or block 14is fitted to traverse longitudinally on said guide, and is coupled by alink 15 to a pin 16 on the eccentric 3. The link 15 is in turn coupledby a pin 17 to the connecting-bar of the weightarms, and thereby servesto transmit to the The the chord of the arc of traverse of the block 14shall be at an angle with the line of the link 15, which issubstantially in line with the chord of the arc of traverse of theeccentric about the axis of its pivot 5. It will thus be seen thatpressure acting upon the eccentric from the valve and tending to movethe eccentric out of adjusted position is effectually resisted by thebearing of the block against the guide, thereby preventing thedisplacement of the eccentric, while on the other hand the block, beingfree to move longitudinally on the guide, opposes no resistance to themovement of the link and connected eccentric 3 in either direction bythe move ment of the weight arms as transmitted through theconnecting-bar 10.

While I have illustrated the guide as 0011- structed in the form of asegmental slotted link, it will be obvious that, if preferred, it may bea solid bar, the block being slotted or recessed to fit over it, andalso in lieu of being longitudinally curved it may be straight,

having its center line inclined relatively to' the center line of thebar 15 at such angle as will admit of the free movement of the block.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In acentrifugal governor, the combination of a supporting wheel or case, anadjustable eccentric, and a centrifugal governing mechanism each coupledthereto, a guide fixed to the supporting-wheel, with its center line orchord inclined relatively to the line of traverse of the eccentric, anda block fitted to traverse longitudinally on said guide and coupled tothe eccentric and'governing mechanism, substantially as set forth.

2. In a centrifugal governor, the combination of a supporting wheel orcase, an adj ustable eccentric connected thereto, a guide fixed to thesupporting-wheel, with its center line or chord inclined relatively tothe line of traverse of the eccentric, a block fitted to traverselongitudinally on the guide, a link coupling said block with theeccentric, and a centrifugal governing mechanism mounted on thesupporting-wheel and coupled to the eccentric, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

0. SEYMOUR DUTTON.

Witnesses:

W. A. BEECHER, JOHN STAMBAUGH, Jr.

